Entangled Love GL - Chapter 18
“Muyè?” Duan Min lowered her gaze to the qin (zither) under her hands.
This qin was Yúnniáng’s most treasured possession, named Xuán Zhěn, said to be made of special material, with a clear and resonant sound, and worth a fortune. Duan Min’s eyes showed a great struggle, her hand movements seemed to hesitate on whether or not to lift the qin.
The girl in apricot yellow instantly darted to her side and clasped her hand: “What’s wrong? Don’t get agitated! My guest has arrived, and I have to rush to greet her before she comes in!”
Duan Min looked up and smiled: “So you called me here to put on a show for you. Muyè, I will definitely remember this today.”
The girl called Muyè remained happily unconcerned: “It’s always good to be remembered!” Before the words finished, she was already at the steps of the waterside pavilion, laughing heartily, and calling out clearly, “Miss Yang! How did you come with Yúnniáng? I thought you would surely come in from the back, and I even specially left the door open for you!”
At these words, before Yang Mei could react, Yúnniáng’s expression changed: “Muyè, if you don’t go and close the door immediately, Jing Yuán will never have a door open for you again!”
Muyè’s face turned bitter. She cupped her fists: “Miss Yang, please wait.” Before her voice faded, she had already leaped across the water, her figure as nimble as a swallow flying among flowers.
When Muyè returned, Yúnniáng had just led Yang Mei onto the pavilion. Duan Min was still sitting behind the qin table, her eyes glancing at the sword in Yang Mei’s hand. The red scabbard remained, but the ornament was gone.
Duan Min smiled faintly: “Miss Yang, how have you been?”
Yang Mei did not answer, but returned a smile. Her gaze lingered on Duan Min for a long time, with an inexplicable meaning.
“I’ll go order some food and wine. How can we treat a guest with just these fruits and snacks?”
Yúnniáng was about to leave when Muyè quickly pulled her back, saying, “Hey, don’t run! Since you’re here, let’s have a cup of tea together. I’m hosting today, everyone be casual. Miss Yang, please sit.” She then asked Duan Min, “Aren’t you coming to sit over here?”
Duan Min preferred to keep her distance and simply said, “I’m fine here. The table is packed, how can we be casual?”
Muyè didn’t try to persuade her, but instead smiled at Yang Mei: “That’s just her temper, as you know.”
In such situations where she had to smile, Yang Mei always smiled exceptionally brightly. It had become a habit that didn’t require effort.
The three drank a cup, substituting tea for wine. Just as Muyè was about to wax philosophical, Yang Mei preempted her: “The style here is unique. Watching rain or admiring snow would be marvelous. Even sitting here plainly, one feels a sense of detachment from the mundane world. Yúnniáng is truly an elegant person. I must also thank Miss Mu for the invitation, allowing me the fortune to come here. Allow me to offer a toast to both of you first.”
The three drank another cup. As Yang Mei was about to speak again, Muyè quickly stopped her: “Tea won’t get anyone drunk. Just say what you mean!”
Yang Mei was readily agreeable, tilting her head and smiling at her: “Are you the Peach Blossom Thief?”
Muyè didn’t expect her to be so direct. She made a strange expression, but quickly nodded frankly: “Yes, ‘Peach Blossom Thief’ is a pseudonym given to me by others. My real name is just Muyè. When I want to make friends, I always show my true face. These past few days, Min-jie and Yúnniáng have truly won my heart. I also think you look fine; you’re someone I can befriend.”
Yúnniáng was already making her own conjecture, and merely lowered her gaze and smiled at the words. Duan Min was somewhat surprised, but only looked up briefly.
“Oh? You’re really the Peach Blossom Thief?” Yang Mei seemed unconvinced, staring intently at her.
Muyè nodded, stared back for a moment, and suddenly hid behind Duan Min: “This person has nothing to do with the authorities, right?”
Duan Min sidestepped a little: “I don’t know.”
“Is the infamous Peach Blossom Thief this timid? Committing crimes when wanted posters are everywhere, yet still afraid of the authorities?” Yang Mei stood up aggressively, scrutinizing her without reserve.
“You’re such a buzzkill!” Muyè shook her head and stepped out from behind the qin table. “Or are you saying you think I’m an imposter and don’t believe I’m the Peach Blossom Thief?”
“What evidence do you have?”
Yang Mei’s question was matter-of-fact. Yúnniáng and Duan Min, however, were both a little stunned to hear it; they seemed to have instantly believed her.
Muyè showed an expression of disbelief even more, and only came to her senses after a long time. Once she recovered, she walked around the waterside pavilion, making four turns, and finally sighed heavily, saying, “I really don’t have any evidence!”
Yang Mei burst into laughter this time: “I actually think you shouldn’t be lying.”
“Of course I’m not lying!” Muyè returned to the table and sat down, a huffy look on her face.
Yang Mei continued to stare at her, and then asked: “Is the Peach Blossom Thief just one person?”
“Of course it’s just me!” Muyè quickly added, “I don’t have evidence for this either.”
“I actually have a piece of evidence for this.” Yang Mei smiled and took out two letters. Yúnniáng recognized one of them as the one she had shown her, but what about the other?
Borrowed temporarily, to be returned in person at Floating Fish Inn in Yúnyún Hall tomorrow noon. The signature is an ink-drawn peach blossom.
Borrowed a jade pendant temporarily, to be returned in person at Xie Gong’s Abandoned Shrine west of the city tomorrow noon. The signature is an ink-drawn peach blossom.
“These are clearly my handwriting and my drawing,” Muyè flipped the two letters over and over, finally pointing at her own nose and asking Yúnniáng, “Did I really not go out today? Was there ever a ‘me’ who walked out of the main hall?”
Yúnniáng looked a little hesitant, but her answer was very certain: “I only saw one of you, just zoning out here.”
Duan Min had also walked over to read the letters. She glanced at Muyè and asked, “What bamboo slip did you steal?”
Muyè’s spirit was lifted. She laughed: “See, that imposter’s judgment is not as good as mine! Miss Yang naturally only has one as well, and didn’t go to the wrong place after all!”
Yang Mei’s face instinctively reddened. She changed the subject and said, “I sent people to the west of the city for me, and arranged for four people to follow secretly. There should be news soon.”
“Good. I really want to know what kind of person dares to impersonate me!” Muyè threw back a cup of tea, and smiled cheerily at Duan Min: “Min-jie, that bamboo slip is in the top drawer of the small cabinet at the back. Take a good look; the refined taste is rare in the world.”
“Miss Mu—” Yang Mei wanted to stop her but couldn’t think of any dignified way to do so. For a moment, she was speechless.
Muyè asked with great concern: “What’s wrong?”
Duan Min had already walked over. Yang Mei watched her back, her expression very stiff, her smile almost impossible to hold, and she murmured, “You really are commendably perceptive.”
“From ancient times, who is without death in life? After a hundred battles, only then do I read. The early arrival of white hair should be my own jest, searching verses and sentences, an old carving worm!” ①
These collected verses were written on the yellowed bamboo slip, with an eight-legged fuzzy worm drawn next to them. The handwriting was slightly childish but vigorous and neat; the drawing was shaky but very vivid.
Muyè clapped her hands and laughed loudly. Yúnniáng also smiled sweetly. Yang Mei offered a compensatory smile with a guilty look. Duan Min frowned slightly, gently recited the collected verses, and suddenly realized: “No wonder it feels so familiar. This was originally mine.”
Muyè was momentarily speechless: “This… I guessed it was yours, but you don’t remember it?”
“How did you know it was mine?”
“It’s simple—” Muyè was excitedly about to explain, but suddenly saw Yang Mei glaring at her gloomily, and quickly said, “Guesses have no logic!” She then reached out and held Yúnniáng’s arm: “Let’s go find some food. I’m starving to death.”
Duan Min was about to stop them, but Muyè had already taken the person to the lakeshore.
Although the eight-sided curtains were hoisted high, the entire back garden was rarely visited at this time. The curved lake walkway was especially nestled among bamboo groves, weeping willows, and artificial rocks, as if separated from the world. Only the wind gently brushed the water surface.
Yang Mei suddenly felt a little nervous.